Combined xylophone and carrying apparatus



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June 16, 1931.

T. R. GERHART COMBINED XYLOPHONE AAND CARRYING APPARATUS Filed 1.v. 21, 1929 INVENTOR,

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f ATTORNEYS.

`vlPatented June 16, 1931 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE THOMAS R. GERHART, OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS Y COMBINED XYLOPHONE AND i CARRYING .APPARATS Application med November 21, 192s. seriai No. 408,792.`

This invention relates to combined Xylophone and carrying apparatus and has for its primary object the provision of a musical instrument of the character mentioned having apparatus for supporting such instrument in the operative or playing position on the body of the player. j

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of novel supporting apparatus vfor musical instruments of the percussion type and especially those instruments which it is necessary to dispose in a substantially horizontal position while the same is being played.

An even further object of this invention is to provide a combined Xylophone and carrying apparatus therefor which may be adjusted to suit the size of the player and may be moved toward or from the player in such a manner that the position of the instrument is substantially the same as is normally mainbeing supported and carriedr player.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide apparat-us for supporting a Xylophone or similar vmusical instrument in the proper operative position which is adjustable, inexpensive to manufacture, eXtremely effective in its operation, comfortable to wear, and does notV create discomfort to the player when the same is worn.

It is well known by musicians that it is desirable to have percussion instruments in bands but in view of their character it has along by the heretofore been practically impossibleto use the same because yof a lack of `equipment of the proper character.

' In view of the above desirable requirement and the several objects enumerated, itis the basic intention of this invention to provide suitable apparatus ofthe character set forth and the same has been shown in one embodiment in the accompanying drawings,.where in i Figure 1 is a perspective view of a commade in accordance with this invention show- 'ing the lsame in the proper related position as though the same were being worn by a player. Y

Fig.' 2 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view of the adjustable bracket which joins belt and frame the nature of the view being that ofa fragmentary inverted plan.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section showing the adjustable nature of the bracket and but aportion of the'body encircling belt, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view ofthe slidably inter-connected frame and bracket the same being a view taken as a cross section on line IV IV of Fig. 3. j

Like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings wherein is illustratedthe preferred embodiment of the invention. tained when the Xylophoneor the like is not The numeral 6 designates the well known frame of a Xylophone or the like which is equipped with the well known series of tone blocks 8 carriedby the frame 6 in the well known manner; As shown in Fig. 1 frame 6 has a series of tone block supporting frame elements which in turn are supported by transverse elements 10 which should project slightly beyond the main longitudinal frame `elements as shown in Fig.

LThe relative position of Xylophone and player is very well establishedin the art and it is to maintain this relative position that the novelfsupporting apparatus is designed. Since different players desire that the distance from thebody be varied, a novel, adjustable bracket has been provided to join a body encircling belt 12 which carriesa plate 14 at the front of the wearer when the belt is in position. Any suitable means for securing plate 14 to belt 12 may be employed. In

this instance 4belt 12'is merely threaded member 18 to receive the down-turned end 2O of bracket 22 when the iframe 6 ot the Xylophone is being supported for playing. The end 2() of bracket 22 slidably engages member 1S in a manner which allows quick removal when it is desired to lower the Xylophone to an inoperative position.

To properly `fulfill one o the objects of this invention by way oi making the trame 6 assume thev desired position away from the body of the wearer, bracket 22 has been connected to Yframe 6 by adjusting mechanism which may be of the form shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4l. This mechanism should have a flanged channel 24l rigidly secured as at 26 to the lower side of trame 6. The rebent edges of channel 24; slidably supports bracket 22 and allows free longitudinal movement when plunger 28 is moved out of engagement with holes 30 formed in channel 21.1.. To yieldably maintain plunger 28 in the locked position, a spring should be provided secured at one end as at 34 'to bracket 22.

As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and l plunger 2S normally rests in opening 36 through bracket 22 and when said opening 36 registers with any one ofi holes 30 plunger 28 is moved by spring to engage the particular hole 30 with which opening 36 has registered. '.hus the adjusting mechanism suppertii'ig bracket 22 permits movement of Vframe 6 predetermined and varying distances from the belt 12. This adjustment can be made without removing the belt and without removing the .later described shoulder strap.

To establish au effective three point suspension for the Xylophone, an rip-standing arm 38 should be provided at the side ol trame 6 opposite from bracket 22. These arms 38 should be adjacent the corners of :trame 6 and in the instance shown are pivota-lly connected as at 46 to transverse elements l0. This pivotal connection allows the movement of arms S8 to a. folded position parallel with elements l0 when it is desired to pack the instrument. The operative position ol arm 38 is shown in Figs. l and 3 and is substantially perpendicular to frame 6.

A. pair of shoulder straps 42 should be provided to connect the plate let carried by belt l2 and arms 38. To con'ipensate 'for varying sizes of players. length adjusting devices such as buckles or the like Llll are provided to allo.Y the operator to lengthen or slierten shoulder straps 42 so that the side of the frame 6 opposite lrom bracket 22 may be raised or lowered to level the instrument ready for playing.

One end of straps i2 is coupled to the upper ends oi 11p-standing arms 38 carried across the shoulders of the player, crossed. in the back and coupled to plate 14 on either side ot bracket 22. These couplings may be through the use of ordinary snap hooks as shown at 46 which permits of quick assembling and dis-assembling the entire apparatus. lt is obvious that the downward pressure exerted upon belt Vl2 by bracket 22 through plate let is somewhat relieved and equalized through the upward pull ot shoulder straps l2 at points adjacent bracket Manifestly the three point suspension and the equalized distribution ot the weight oli the instrument ali'ords in this device an exceptionally eliicient and comfortable apparatus by means oil? which a Xylophone or similar instrument might be carried and played in a band in a manner not unlike any other well known band instrument.

Many modilications in the specilic structure ot al device embodying this invention might be made without departing from the spirit thereo'l or the. scope ot the appended claims.

lVliat is claimed and desired lo be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device ot the character described, a Xylophone trame,v a body encircling belt, a plate carried by said belt, a bracket projecting from one side ot said trame Vlo join said plate, adjusting` mechanism l'or the bracket for selectively maintaining said irame and plate in varying spaced relation, a pair of shoulder straps connecting the plate and Xylophone trame and length adjusting devices for said shredder strapf-i, said straps beA ing coupled to :va id xylojnhone trame at the side opposite trom said projecting bracket,` saiiil re1 :able moans for the bracket ineludinp; a flanged channel secured to said :trame and sli d ably supporting said bracket, a serie.'-` o'l holes 'loi-med in said channel and a plunger carried by the bracket to selectively engage th said holes.

2. In a device ol' the character descrilied, a frame, a body encircling belt, a bracket slidably supported by said trame and projecting from one side thereof to join said belt, releasable means ttor securing said bracket in any one of a series ot positions after the same has been moved to space said 'frame and belt apart, pair oi lip-standingY arms carried by said frame atthe side opposite from said bracket and a pair et shoulder straps joining said body encircling belt and said rip-standing arms respectively, said releasable means tor the bracket including a tlanggjed channel secured to said trame, said bracl: li being supported thereby tor longitudinal reciinocating rectilinear movement, a series olf holes formed in said channel, a plunger to selectively engage each hole respectively and a spring supporting` said plunger to yieldably maintain the same in engagement with one ot said holes.

:in a device of the character described, a Xylophone frame, a body encircling belt, a plate carried by said belt. a bracket projecting from one side of said Xylophone frame arms being movable from the position per` pendicular to said frame to a position parallel With one side thereof.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

THGMAS R. GERHART. 

